Summer in St. Louis has many traditions: Cardinals baseball, Ted Drewes custard and musicals. I remember dressing up for the free seats at The Muny while in high school but also recall watching Jesus Christ Superstar on a sweltering 4th of July in 104-degree heat.
Max & Louie Productions gave us a chilling descent into crazy town with Grey Gardens, the musical. Many people are familiar with the story of the socialite Beales, who became eccentric, hoarding hermits, with several film and stage productions that documented the mother-daughter ‘love story.’ Being someone who eschews reality TV and prefers not to look at car wrecks, I was not acquainted with the tale.
The two Edies, Debby Lennon as the adult Edie and Madeline Purches as her younger self, are powerhouse singers immersed in a difficult score. They were terrific on every level. Lennon’s deterioration in the second act was particularly enthralling, but I had a difficult time accepting the story as ‘entertainment.’ That being said, the production was well done all around, with a great cast and design team, and strong direction by Annamaria Pileggi.
Another musical I was completely unfamiliar with is The Drowsy Chaperone, even though the creator, Don McKellar, enjoys an ardent fan base at our house. Stages produced this delicious meringue of frothy confection, and the evening was such a delight, I called my in-laws immediately after to tell them they must see this show!
Some of the credit goes to McKellar and his writing cronies, some to the glorious costume designs of Brad Musgrave (especially Janet’s red dress in ‘Show Off,’ and absolutely everything the Drowsy Chaperone wears), certainly Michael Hamilton and Lisa Campbell Albert deserve kudos for the stage and musical direction, and the gorgeous, talented cast can take as many bows as they like for their contribution.
All the pieces aside, I would lay the entire success of the show at the feet of the Man in Chair, David Schmittou, who seems to channel McKellar as he dances us through this sugarplum dream. It is his energy and passion that enchants the audience and propels the cast through their first-rate velocities.
All the cast members are worthy of mention, but I particularly delighted in the vaudevillian styling of the gangsters, Ryan Alexander Jacobs and Austin Glen Jacobs, twin brothers with rock-solid comic timing. Edward Juvier’s Aldolpho and Corinne Melançon’s Chaperone provided lots of laughs as well, as did the by-play of Kari Ely and John Flack.
Finally, this summer gave me a treat in seeing my goddaughter, Lola Harper, in her first show, Dear Edwina, this year’s musical offering by Shrewsbury Youth Theater. Kudos to Lola and Sammy Parson.
Pictured: Grey Gardens
